MEDIA RELEASE
11 September 2023
For immediate release:
Tassie businesses call for the removal of salmon farms to safeguard the Maugean skate
In an open letter to the Federal Environment Minister, the newly launched Business Alliance for the Maugean skate (BAM) highlights the risk a ‘Thylacine of the sea’ extinction could mean to the Tasmanian brand
lutruwita/Tasmania: Today, more than 28 Tasmanian businesses and individuals, from a diverse range of sectors including tourism and hospitality, formally launched the Business Alliance for the Maugean skate (BAM). The launch coincided with the release of an open letter urging the Environment Minister to protect the Tasmanian brand, values, environment, businesses and jobs by heeding the Australian Government's own Conservation Advice that calls for the removal of salmon farming to prevent the skate’s extinction.
The letter cites the extensive research done by the Tasmanian Government’s Brand Tasmania that has found the state’s ‘unique natural environment’ and ‘protecting the unusual’ is deeply important to Tasmanians, mainlanders, and international visitors alike.
Significantly, the research highlights the threat that negative industry impacts may have on Tasmania’s world-class, premium quality products, produce, and businesses that rely on the Tasmanian brand. In reference to commentary about the salmon industry, the research asserts: “Tasmania needs to protect its current pure image: industry advancement poses real potential to damage what makes Tasmania great” and “Progress should not come at the cost of the environment or the spell that is Tasmania is broken”.
The Maugean skate is currently being considered for uplisting to Critically Endangered with an estimated 40-120 adult skates left.
James Watts (Save the Skate Campaigner, Environment Tasmania) said: “It’s over a year on from the initial Conservation Advice that called for the urgent removal of salmon farming from the harbour and still no action has been taken on this recommendation. This lack of action could have severe consequences for the Tasmanian brand and the Tasmanian businesses and jobs that rely on it.”
BAM is calling on the Federal government to safeguard the Maugean skate in order to protect the Tasmanian brand by:
● Acting on the Conservation Advice by prioritising the removal of salmon farming from Macquarie Harbour, along with actions that minimise all threats to the skate and ensure the environmental remediation of the harbour.
● Investing in a comprehensive transition plan that supports affected workers and businesses in the West Coast community to shift to new economic opportunities.
Stuart Barry (Director & Financial Adviser, Tas Ethical) said: “We can’t let the Tasmanian brand be associated with and tarnished by extinction. We need to act on the science and not let the Maugean skate become the next Thylacine. It’s time Tasmania recognises the incredible economic benefits from our globally unique environment. We need to move on from the 1970's industrial mentality of destroy and extract as much from the environment as possible for short term gains at a long-term cost."
Any Tasmanian business – big or small – can sign up to the BAM via bam.org.au
Read the open letter here.
For media enquiries:
James Watts
Save the Skate Campaigner
Environment Tasmania
M: 0438 661 562
Backgrounder:
BAM website: bam.org.au
BAM open letter: et.org.au/open_letter
BRAND TASMANIA RESEARCH
Bas{ion insights, Tasmanian Place Brand Research, November 2021; 2023. Brand Tasmania Partner Toolkit. Available at: https://toolkit.tasmanian.com.au/asset-page/279340-2021-place-b